Even after Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the Wood Release experiments to stop, the project was never truly going to end.
It would only move from the light into the shadows.
The moment Orochimaru received the news, he immediately ordered the equipment relocated to a hidden Root base outside the village, preparing to continue the research in secret.
And more importantly—
The experiment had already succeeded.
Even Orochimaru himself hadn't expected Danzo's idea to work so well.
By combining Sage Technique curse seals with Hashirama cells, he had cultivated an experimental subject who could use Wood Release chakra upon entering Sage Mode.
However, Orochimaru told no one.
Not Danzo. Not the village.
Instead, he personally erased the successful subject's existence.
That child… had been a member of the Uzumaki clan.
Only those with powerful bloodlines could withstand the fusion of both forces.
Now, only one subject remained—
A red-haired Uzumaki girl named Uzumaki Kayoko.
Orochimaru intended to use her carefully.
As a piece on his board.
Konoha Streets
After leaving the Hokage Tower, Naruto and the others immediately followed Namikaze Minato, wandering through the village.
Their first stop—
Ichiraku Ramen.
"So many people!!" Naruto shouted excitedly from the back of the line.
"There's actually a queue?!"
"I didn't expect Ichiraku to get this popular so fast," Yamato muttered, scratching his cheek.
"But we've been gone for a month," Sai sighed.
"I wonder what's happened back in our world…"
"It'll be fine, right?" Sakura said uneasily, Sasuke's face flashing through her mind.
At that moment, someone joined the line behind them.
Sakura casually glanced back—then froze.
Black hair. Tall. Handsome.
"…So handsome."
The young man held a book from Jiendō Publishing—not Icha Icha Paradise, which didn't exist yet in this era.
"Good afternoon," Kaito said calmly.
"Mikoto, patrol duty light today? You slipped out again?"
Only then did Sakura notice the elegant young woman beside him, almost leaning against him.
Wait—Mikoto?!
"Ka—Kaito… that's Sasuke's mom…?!" Sakura's mind went blank.
"Ka—Kaito," Mikoto said shyly,
"My grandfather wants to invite you to dinner tonight. Are you free?"
Kaito glanced at the book in his hand—The Legend of the Queen of Loulan, an adventure novel adapted from Loulan Daily.
"Sure," he replied.
"But just dinner. No politics."
Mikoto puffed her cheeks, adorably displeased.
Behind them, Sakura stood frozen, the line moving forward without her.
"Naruto!" Minato shouted.
"Sa—Sakura? What's wrong?!"
"Sa—Sasuke's… Sasuke's mom—!!"
Minato quickly understood and lowered his voice.
"Sakura, don't panic. Even if Mikoto weren't here, Fugaku would still marry someone and have Sasuke."
Unfortunately—
Both Mikoto and Kaito heard every word.
Kaito went silent.
Mikoto's eyebrow twitched.
"What do you mean even without me he'd still have Sasuke?!"
"Why can't I and Kaito have a child named Sasuke?!"
"I—I'm sorry!!" Minato bowed instantly.
The entire group fell silent.
"…This feels troublesome," Yamato muttered.
Sai nodded.
Kaito also nodded.
Naruto scratched his head.
"So… if history keeps changing, can we even come back again?"
That question made the future group tense.
Kaito stepped in smoothly.
"He means going home."
"Oh." Mikoto nodded. "You made it sound so dramatic."
Then she squinted at Naruto.
"…You kinda look like Minato."
"Probably a distant cousin," Kaito said calmly.
"Ohhh! That explains it!"
Sai narrowed his eyes.
Why was Kaito helping them so much?
"You're Kaito, right?" Sai asked.
"I've heard you're very strong. Why not aim for jōnin?"
The world went quiet.
Kaito closed his book.
"My strength isn't enough," he said softly.
"Many things require real power."
"Titles don't make you strong."
Silence followed.
"…That was deep," Mikoto clapped.
Minato nodded seriously.
"Naruto, you should learn from him."
"He's been a genin for thirteen years."
"Like Grandpa Kosuke!" Naruto gasped.
That was when—
"Sorry I'm late!" Uzumaki Kaori ran over.
"Minato! I heard your mission ended!"
She leapt straight into Minato's arms.
"K-Kaori?!"
After greetings, Kaito spoke calmly:
"There's something we should explain. Naruto… is Minato's son."
The air froze.
Kaori slowly tilted her head.
"…Minato?"
Minato nodded weakly.
"This child… is from the future?" she whispered.
"Yes," Minato said quietly.
Kaori smiled, knelt down, and gently touched Naruto's face.
"You've had it hard, haven't you… Naruto?"
"I-I…"
"M-Mom…"
Naruto broke down crying.
Kaito glanced aside, sensing hostility from a nearby rooftop, and muttered:
"The real owner isn't happy."
Later — Akatsuki Mushroom Delicacies
After ramen, the group stopped by "Akatsuki Mushroom Delicacies."
"Konan, I'm buying mushroom sauce," Kaito said casually.
"Brother Kaito!" Konan ran out and hugged him—
Until she noticed Mikoto's clenched fist.
"…Welcome! How can I help you?"
Akatsuki had become a merchant guild.
Not terrorists.
Not missing-nin.
Just… a business.
Even the future group was stunned.
Rain Country mushrooms.
Rain Country packaging.
The world had diverged too far.
Meanwhile — Two Nine-Tails
Inside Naruto's mindscape—
Past Kurama stared at the future one.
"You're… only half?"
"Other half's in the Pure Land," Future Kurama sighed.
"But I'm freer."
"…Fate, huh."
"Seems so."
Final Thoughts
Kaito stood quietly, observing everything.
The Third Shinobi War.
The disappearance of the Third Kazekage.
Sasori.
Fourteen years old, assassinating a Kage.
Fourteen years old, running a merchant empire.
This world…
Was already completely off the rails.
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